Birds Georgia Announces Statewide Georgia Birding Trail to Celebrate Centennial

By Adam Betuel, Birds Georgia, Executive Director

As part of its 100th anniversary celebration in 2026, Birds Georgia will launch the Georgia Birding Trail, a landmark legacy project designed to connect people, birds, and nature while strengthening the state’s growing nature-based economy.

Georgia will become one of more than 25 states with a statewide birding trail, building on the successful regional trails developed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Despite its name, the Georgia Birding Trail is not a single continuous path, but a network of more than 400 exemplary birding sites organized into 50+ regional sub-trails. From the mountains to the coast and everywhere in between, the Georgia Birding Trail will showcase our state’s incredible birdlife and help make birding accessible to all.

Birding has soared in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic, as more people discovered the joy of connecting with nature close to home. Today, more than 2 million visitors come to Georgia annually for birding and wildlife viewing, generating $10.6 billion in wildlife-watching expenditures statewide. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, birding supports 12,016 Georgia jobs, produces $1.9 billion in total economic output, and contributes $88 million in state and local tax revenue each year. Birds Georgia estimates that every $1 invested in the Georgia Birding Trail generates $7.10 in economic impact through tourism, recreation, and community revitalization.

“It’s no secret that birds mean business,” said Adam Betuel, executive director of Birds Georgia. “The Georgia Birding Trail will protect habitats, support local economies, and inspire the next generation of conservationists. It’s our legacy for the future.”

The Georgia Birding Trail is designed to be welcoming to all levels of birders and nature enthusiasts. Sites are being strategically selected for accessibility and amenities such as restrooms, picnic areas, visitor centers, and interpretive signage. While most locations will be easy to navigate, the trail will also include premier birding hotspots in more remote areas. A companion website, now in development, will provide maps of sub-trails and individual sites, along with photos and details on access, amenities, and resources on birding basics, ethical birding and wildlife photography, and exploring habitats across the state.

Educational programming will be a cornerstone of the Georgia Birding Trail. By partnering with sites that offer guided walks and interpretive programs, the initiative aims to amplify local education efforts and foster a shared sense of stewardship. Regular bird walks, workshops, and talks will engage people of all backgrounds, helping to build community among birders and inspire environmental stewardship.

The official Georgia Birding Trail logo features the Southeastern American Kestrel, a small, cavity-nesting falcon that symbolizes power, beauty, and the vital link between habitat health and conservation. Once common across Georgia’s open grasslands and sandhills, the kestrel has declined due to habitat loss and the reduction of natural nesting sites. By highlighting kestrel habitats along the trail, Birds Georgia aims to raise awareness and promote conservation of this iconic species.

Partnerships are central to the Georgia Birding Trail’s success. Birds Georgia is collaborating with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, local Audubon chapters, and state tourism agencies to identify and promote sites across the state. As the trail officially launches next year, regional events will highlight local partners, communities, and the birds that make Georgia unique. Event information will be available on the Birds Georgia website and in Bird Buzz.

Together with partners and communities statewide, Birds Georgia is building a lasting gift to Georgia’s people and wildlife through the Georgia Birding Trail. 

This is sponsored content.